By Cmr. Wilbet Ijeoma
Former Federal Minister of States on Education and Social Democratic Party, SDP, gubernatorial candidate in Delta State, Olorogun Kenneth Gbagi, in company of his Deputy Chief Mrs. Oshilim Rosemary and other SDP stalwarts, met with journalists yesterday 15th February 2023 at the newly built NUJ Press Centre, Asaba in what seemed to be a robust interactive Q&A session on a programme organized by NUJ tagged “The Platform”.
The Delta State SDP gubernatorial candidate in the forthcoming election began his opening remarks by admitting a bitter truth which he alleged that Delta State is the worst performing state in Nigeria in terms of industrialization. While corroborating his submission, Olorogun Gbagi reported the assertion of an editor (name withheld) who accounted that Delta State in recent regimes is the most irresponsible state with regards to the way its finances are managed.
Deriding the financial state of Delta State which is in oblivion to most persons, the former Minister of Education challenged the journalists that most of them don’t know what Delta State earns, while disclosing that the State had secured a loan of over N462bn, averaging about N164,000 liability on each Deltan. He decried that nobody knew what these loans were used for, and submitted that it is an unfortunate situation that entreats for industrialization. “Unless we collectively change the narrative, we will continue to manage to eat and pay the fees of our children”; Gbagi decried.
The SDP candidate craved the indulgence of journalists to go back to the public and mobilize support to rescue Delta State from the pitiable state of lack of industrialization. He made reference to Otah in Ogun State and Lagos State where state’s revenue and allocations are judiciously used for industrialization. The former Minister lamented how companies like Shell have left Delta State, Nigeria to other nations, and assured that when elected as Governor of Delta State, his administration will focus on reviving the moribund industries and empowering youths. “From the first day I will take over as Governor of Delta State, I will pay N10,000 monthly to youths for 3 months within which period a sustainable job would be provided”; the SDP gubernatorial candidate assured.
Eulogizing the significant of his party, Olorogun Gbagi recalled that SDP is a social movement, a platform under which Olorogun Felix Ibru and Chief MKO Abiola won gubernatorial and presidential elections respectively and comprehensively, and enthused that he is confident of victory come 11th March, 2023.
While harping on industrialization, the former Minister commended the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan under which he served, and confirmed authoritatively that he has the credit of establishing 14 new Federal Universities across the States of the Federation when he was the Minister of States on Education. Assuring journalists of his industrialization plans for Delta, Gbagi cited that he will revive moribund industries in Delta State like the Asaba Textile Mill and diversify its production and exports, creating jobs for unemployed youths and generating wealth for the State.
“No one puts something on nothing and expects it to stand”; the former Minister said, as he urged Deltans to go back to industrialization and realize its place in glory. He concluded that Deltans cannot continue like this as a State because the cost effect would be massive. Gbagi further charged the journalists to change the narrative by informing the public of the present ills in the society and a need for industrialization in what seems to be the embodiment of his manifesto.
Responding to questions from journalists which ranged from welfare of journalist, public servants and pensioners to his chances of winning the forthcoming gubernatorial election, Olorogun Gbagi assured that he will partner with journalists and work with them to progress Delta as a State, while expressing confidence that people of Delta State being a Christian State have made up their mind not to vote party but personalities, and some churches have adopted SDP as their party because of him. He also expressed confidence that it is the turn of a Christian to rule the State and nation.
On his plan for women, the immediate past Chairperson of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, Mrs. Pat Gbemudu, asked the SDP gubernatorial candidate his plans for women in terms of appointive positions. In the affirmative, Gbagi assured that he will not engage less than 15 women as commissioners in his government because he believes what a man can do, a woman can do better.
The event rounded up with a vote of thanks by the NUJ Chairman of Delta State Council, Cmr. Michael Ikeogwu who on behalf of the Council appreciated the august visit of the former Minister of Education, and assured that as the SDP gubernatorial candidate, journalists would do the needful when they go out in ventilating his manifesto to the people. He however requested that NUJ be given the privilege of nominating the Chief Press Secretary to the SDP gubernatorial candidate when he becomes governor, which was granted. The event was roundly attended by NUJ Chapels Chairmen and journalists, as well as some SDP supporters across the State.